Baseboard drain construction



Marh 1, 1955 P. A. SUSKIND 2,703,002

BASEBOARD DRAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTUR PHILIP A. 5115mm] ATTUHNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 INVENTUR PHILIP A. 5115mm] AT TDHNEY United States Patent BASEBOARD DRAIN coNs'mUcrroN Philip A. Suslrind, Syracuse, N. Y. Application February 4, 1952, Serial No. 269,747 1 8 Claims. 01. 72-05 This invention relates to a baseboard drain construction, more particularly adapted for basement walls having a tendency to leak from hydrostatic water pressure in the surrounding ground.

In basement construction in damp areas, the walls are subjected on the outside to water pressures particularly during rainy seasons, and unless the utmost care has been utilized in construction, leakage through the wall into the basement will occur. While basement drains are generally adequate to provide a run-off for the usual small amounts of water entering through the walls, such a condition creates dampness, tends to prevent the basement from being utilized as additional living or recreation space.

The present invention is directed to a baseboard drain trough construction including water pressure relief tubes projectible through the wall, which may draw off the water standing against the wall on the outside subter ranean surface thereof, and lead such water in a con cealed fashion to a floor drain.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure having the appearance of a baseboard, and having a hidden conduit or trough adapted to lead any water seeping through the wall to a connection to a floor drain.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for lowering the hydrostatic pressure in the ground surrounding the basement wall, by drawing oif free Water and lead any such water to an inside drain. By lowering such pressure, the wall surface above such baseboard will be retained dry, and basement dampness will be substantially reduced. I

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the-following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood'that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being'had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts: 7

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view'of a basement corner showing the baseboard construction, with parts broken away; 2

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the corner construction;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a similar section taken at a point spaced along the baseboard;

Figure 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of a joint; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section 66 of Figure 5. I

In Figure 1, there is shown an inside basement corner, such basement comprising a wall of cement 'blocksor the like 10, cemented together as at 12,'"and 'a'cement floor 14. Such walls, being projected five orm ore feet below the ground, often project into asubter'ranean water table, the level of which may vary in accordance with the amount of surface water soaking through theground. Such water against the outside wall develops hydrostatic pressure, and unless the wall is of perfect construction, will find its way through 'the wall, creating dampness and limiting the use that can be made of the basement.

In order to eliminate this nuisance, the. present invention is adapted to drain off water which would seep taken on the' line through the walls, and lead such watepjn a concealed formed upwardly as at 58 to project through an aper-j manner to a floor or other drain. For this purpose, there is provided a baseboard construction comprising a trough member 15 in the form of a channel, such member having a wall-engaging rear flange 16, a bottom wall or web 18, and front flange 20. Such channel may be made of sheet metal or other suitable material. The spacing between the flanges 16 and 20 will be in the order of the thickness of a baseboard, or about an inch in most cases. The channel member is provided in long sections, preferably of a length suflicient to extend along an entire wall. The depth of such channel may be several inches.

Such channel is adapted to be secured with the rear flange 16 against the basement wall 10, with the channel sloping slightly lengthwise to permit any water caught therein to drain to one end. The channel is preferably secured to the wall by a series of hollow headed tubes such as 22, such tubes having a tubular shank portion 24 and an annular head 26. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, such tubes are adapted to be projected through the wall and are preferably of a length slightly greater than the wall thickness. Such tubes are provided with a series of apertures 28, which, when the shanks are projected through a wall, will preferably be located on the top side. Such tubes will be projected through the wall inclined slightly upward, and the head of such tubes may belutilized to hold the channel flange 16 against the wa 1.

In practice, such tubes may be projected through snug apertures drilled or pierced through adjacent or alternate joints between cement blocks, where such blocks are used, a spacing of two to three feet being adequate to reduce the hydrostatic head in the earth surrounding the wall to stop pressure leaks. The structure thus described provides a path of least resistance, namely, through such perforate tubes 22, into the drain channel 15.

In order to provide a finished appearance and to conceal such channels, a sheet metal housing plate 30, having a configuration similar to a baseboard will be preferably secured to the forward flange 20 of the channel.

- Since the channel slopes from one end to the other slight- 1y, a broad lap plate 32 secured to the housing plate at spaced points as by rivets 34 (or screws, if desired) is provided, such plate being adapted to form in conjunction with the plate 30, a continuous clamp slidable over the forward flange of the channel. Such clamp freely accommodates any slope present in the channel, so that'by meanS 'of standard parts, namely the channel, the lap plate and baseboard plate, a complete job may be installed in almost any situation.

' Where such channel and baseboard construction is required to fit a corner, the base plates which will meet on a 45 angle may be mitered as at 36, and the ends of the adjacent channels may be provided with a thin walled angle channel 38 having telescopic end sections 40 and 42. Such angle channel can be soldered or cemented in place, the joint being necessarily water-tight but not subject to any pressure. Where channel sections are ofinsuflicient length, a similar thin walled splice channel part similar to the corner piece but straight may be provided, or one end of each channel member may have its flanges ofiset inwardly the thickness of the flanges for a short distanceas at 44 and 46, so that one section can overlap another for a short distance. To provide a smooth bottom or web surface at the joint, the web at the other end of each channel may be offset downwardly the thickness of the web material, as at 48. Such joint can'be'sloldered or cemented for waterproofing. If desired, the corner piece may have the web at its inflow end offset as at 48, and the flanges at the outflow end ofisetas at 44 and 46, so as to interfit with channels similarlyprepared as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

.Such channel. will be installed with the low point shown in Figure 4, the cement floor 14 may be provided J with a trough 52. leading from a point adjacent the floor drain 50.and extending to the wall blocks 10, and a tubular conduit 56 laid therein, one end of which enters the floor drainand the other end of which is ture 60 in the web of the channel at the low point of such channel. The end of the conduit will preferably be secured in the web substantially flush therewith. Such trough may be subsequently filled with cement as at 61 to restore a smooth floor surface. g

In practice, the rear flange 16 of the channel member 15 will preferably be provided with a beveled edge as at 62, which will contact the wall when the channel is secured in place. The channel will also be provided with a thin layer of plastic cement 64 between the rear flange and Wall to prevent, together with the beveled edge, any water running down the wall surface from passing behind the channel and escaping collection by the channel for draining.

The baseboard plate in practice will have an upper inwardly directed flange 66, such flange being inclined slightly downwardly as shown and perforated as at 68 at frequent intervals. The edge 70 of such flange may then bear against the wall to position the base plate, and at the same time, any water will be allowed to pass through apertures 68.

Installation of the baseboard drain construction may be effected from standardized parts as indicated, so that any basement having dampness and water leaking thereinto may be provided with such parts, and converted to usable relatively dry space. Any material that is impervious to moisture over long periods may be utilized for the various parts, such as sheet metal, extruded molded or sheet plastic, or the like.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, an open top channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to a wall comprising tubular members extending through the wall and extending through the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one end to the other for providing drainage into said channel member, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

2. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, an open top channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to a wall comprising tubular members extending through the wall and the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one end to the other for providing drainage into said channel member and perforations along one side thereof to provide a passage for moisture in the wall to enter said tubular members, a baseboard plate secured against saidfor,- ward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

3. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, a channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to a wall comprising tubular members extending through the wall and the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one end to the other for providing drainage into said channel member, a baseboard plate having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof of a width commensurate with the width of said base web, said plate being secured against said forward flange, and a clamp plate overlying the inside face of 50 the forward flange and secured to said baseboard plate to clamp said baseboard plate against said flange.

4. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, a wall, a channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear from the horizontal lengthwise thereof, said means comprising tubular members extending through the wall and the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one ,end to the other for providing drainage into said channel member, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof, and conduit means extending through said base web at the lowest point thereof for conducting water collected in said channel member to a drain.

5. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, a wall, a channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to said wall with said base web inclined slightly from the horizontal lengthwise thereof, said means comprising tubular members extending through the wall and the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one end to the other it. providing drainage into said channel member, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

6. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, a wall, a channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to said wall with said base web inclined slightly from the horizontal lengthwise thereof, said means comprising tubular members extending through the wall and the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads at one end securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members each having a passageway therethrough from said one end to its other end for providing drainage into said channel member and perforations along the upper side thereof at the other end, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

7. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, a wall, a channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to said wall with said base web inclined slightly from the horizontal lengthwise thereof, said means comprising tubular members extending a substantial distance into the wall and through the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads at one end securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members each having a passageway therethrough from said one end to its other end for providing drainage into said channel member and perforations along the upper side thereof at the other end, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

8. In a baseboard drain construction, in combination, an open top channel member having rear and forward flanges and a connecting base web, said rear flange having apertures spaced therealong, means securing said rear flange to a wall comprising tubular members extending a substantial distance into the wall and through the rear flange apertures, said tubular members having annular heads securing said rear flange against the wall, said tubular members having a passageway therethrough from one end to the other for providing drainage into said channel member, a baseboard plate secured against said forward flange and having an inwardly directed flange along the top thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 807,819 Greene Dec. 19, 1905 815,886 Winslow Mar. 20, 1906 1,170,215 Blaha Feb. 1, 1916 1,633,032 Nordling June 21, 1927 2,147,035 Henderson Feb. 14, 1939 2,329,627 Lang Sept. 14, 1943 2,500,642 Morse et al Mar. 14, 1950 2,573,539 Bryce Oct. 30, 1951 

